Cockpit cover



5, 9 w. w. LIGHTNER 1,937,520

cocKPIT COVER Filed Kay 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Shaet 1 W. W. L IGHTN'ERINVENTOR A'ITORIEY,

Dec. 5, 1933.

W. W. LIGHTNER COCKPIT COVER F1166 Bay 19. 19:52

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w; w, LIGHTNER O INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 5,1933 cooxrrr covnn Walter w. Ughtner, United States New Application May13, 1932.

Serial No. 612,361

5 Claims. (01. 244-30) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1328; 370 0. G. 757) My invention relates broadly to acockpit cover and release andmore particularly to a quick release catchfor cockpit covers on an aircraft.

The principal object of my invention is to pro- 5 vlde an aircraftcockpit cover that can be easily and quickly positioned and released foruse in blind flying maneuvers.

Another object of my invention being to provide an aircraft cockpitcover having a quick re- 1 lease latch so that the flyer will notexperience any dimculty in the removal of the covering in an emergency.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a device that is rugged,light weight, and one .5 that can be easily installed upon the cockpitof an airplane.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be de- 20scribed more fully hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthe specification in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views and is in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an airplane'fuselage showingmy improved cockpit cover in closed position.

Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 showing to my cockpit cover inopenposition.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of my quick release catch,showing its mechanism in position to receive the rearmost bow of thehood.

Figure 4 is a plan viewof nrv catch with the I5 members in the positionshown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an end view of my catch with parts in position as in Figure3.

to Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of my hood and theposition of my catch relative to engagement with the rearmost bow.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 10 indicates a portion of afuselage of a convens tional type airplane, disclosed more or lessdiagrammatically, showing one of the cockpits 11 provided with the usualwind shield 12. The fuselage 16 has secured to its sides the bearingplates 13 which receive a series of apertures 1'! m in the ends 14 ofthe bows 15 of the hood 16.

The hood 16 is preferably made from light canvas which is soft andpliable so as to occupy a small space when folded back under the windshield 12.

s The bows 15 are attached to the side plates as shown. The forward flapof the cover or hood 16 is secured beneath the wind shield 12 by snapbutton fasteners or the like 18. The shape and number of bows areoptional and may be made from light weight rods or tubing.

In order to permit the hood to uncover the cockpit, and to hold the samein inactive position when released I have provided an elastic member 19installed under a slight tension, one end being secured forward at 20while the other 65 end is attached to the rearmost how 15 at 21.

The quick release and securing catch 22 located centrally and at therear of the cockpit designated and equipped for blind flying, is securedto the cowling by bolts or the like at the apertures 7 23 located in theflanges 24 of the side plates 25. The catch 22 is provided with a bowengaging contact member 26 having a recess 27 bounded by the actuatingjaw 28 and the gripping Jaw 29. A bolt 30 connects the member 26 to theplates 25. 7 The contact member 26 is provided with a tooth 3i and anoffset stop notch 32.

A trigger member 33 is located back of the member 26 and is providedwith a dog 34 for contact with the notch 32 of the member 26 to hold thesame in position for receiving the rearmost how 15 of the hood 16 (seeFigure 3) and also for holding the same in locked position after the bow15 has entered the recess 27 and the hood is in closed position (seeFigure 5). An operating lever or handle 35 is also provided for thetrigger member 33 which is held in active position by means of the latchspring 36.

The release of the hood can be accomplished in some installations forblind flying by the pilot reaching out from another cockpit andoperating the lever or handle 35 direct but I have shown for the purposeof illustration a wire 3'? connected to the handle 35 and led around thecockpit through Bowden casing 36 to the instrument board 39 where abutton or grip 40 is attached and accessible to the person within thecockpit 11.

The catch should be placed in a cocked position as shown in Figure 3before the hood is closed. The hood may be then closed in a way that the100 after how 15 of the hood 16 strikes the catch 22 and causes the sameto be locked in closed posi tion until the member 40 is operated torelease the same after completing a maneuver or when an emergencyarises.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanyingdrawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of myinvention, and that various changes in construction, proportion andarrangement of parts may be 110 Gil within the scope of the appendedclaims, and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

The herein described invention may be manuiactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States for governmental purposes withoutthe payment to me of any royalties thereon.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a body portion having a cockpit, a wind shieldforward of the cockpit, brackets on the sides of said body, a hoodhaving bow members pivoted to said brackets, a hold-down release catchfor quick attachment to and detachment from a bow of said hood, atension member connected to said hood forcausing the same to instantlyuncover said cockpit when said catch is actuated, and means foractuating said catch from within said cockpit.

2. In combination, a body portion having a cockpit, a wind shieldforward of the, cockpit, an instrument board within said cockpit orhatch, brackets on the sides of said body, a hood having a plurality ofbow members pivoted to said brackets, a hold-down and release catch forattachment to and detachment from a bow of said hood. a tension memberconnected to the rearmost bow of said hood for causing the same toinstantly uncover said cockpit and partly stow aid hood behind saidwind-shield when said catch is actuated to release position, a wireconnected to a pull button located upon said instrument board for theactuation of said catch from 'vithin said body.

3 In combination, a fuselage, a cockpit, rackets on the sides of thefuselage, a windshield surrounding the forward end of said cockpit, ahood having bow members pivotally secured to said brackets, a quickattachment and detachment connection secured to said fuselage, a tensionmember secured at one end to the rearmost of the bows of said hood andthe other end to the fuselage adjacent to said wind-shield, said tensionmember adapted to cause the folding of said hood partially within thebounds of said wind-shield. and an encased flexible connection having onthe end a button within reach of a person from within said fuselagefortripping said release connections.

4, In combination, a ball, a quick release and securing catch comprisinga housing, a bail engaging member having one bail retaining lip and oneactuating lip bounding an open end crotch, said engaging member having aplurality of stop notches, a lever for releasing a trigger projectingobliquely therefrom for engagement with the stop notches of saidengaging member for holding the trigger under tension against the stopnotches of said engaging member, and a spring for holding the triggerunder tension against the stop notches of said member.

5. In combination, a bail member, a trip latch mechanism comprising ahousing, a trigger in said housing, a lever extending from said triggerand beyond said housing, a spring tensioned guide member connected tosaid lever for forcing said trigger to locked position, a jaw membermounted forward of said trigger having notches for engagement by saidtrigger for thus limiting the movement of said jaw to active andinactive positions, said jaw having a crotch open at one endand boundedby a bail actuated lip and a bail retaining lip, and bearing memberssupporting said trigger and jaw member in the housing.

WALTER W. LIGHTNER.

